Please help me find replacement knobs for Elan Whole House Audio Room Vol Control

[slobizman]

Hello, I'm new here and desperate that perhaps one of you guys can help me with something.

I have a 10 year old Elan Whole House Audio system in my home. Each room/area has a volume control knob. It's white. Well, over the years several have broken, and now I am selling my house and I need to find more knobs to replace the broken, now missing ones. An Elan dealer called Elan for me and they do not have any. I've searched everywhere and cannot find anything.

The knobs are 1 3/16" in diameter, 5/8" deep, and the hole looks like it's 5/16". The hole is no completely round, but has a flat area. Imagine you are looking at a circle and around the 11 pm and 1 am spots (if it were a clock), instead of continuing around for the full circle, it is just flat straight across there. I hope this makes sense. I'd attach a photo but I'm not allowed yet.

So, does anyone have any idea where I can get some of these? And if I cannot match them exactly, I'll just buy a replacement for every one of them in the house if I can find a knob that has the right whole size and depth, and looks nice. It has to be white to match the plate.

Thanks so much. If I don't find them, I'd the buyer may force me to replace all the entire volume control units. That's a lot of money since I have about 15 of them.

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum! I see that you've asked the same thing over at AVS, so hopefully you'll get this all worked out.

Have you tried contacting Elan directly? You can e-mail directly from their contact page at the link here. Just something to try.

Also, have you considered getting the knobs made? I don't know how much 15 of them would cost, but someone else here might have a clue.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hello, I'm new here and desperate that perhaps one of you guys can help me with something.

I have a 10 year old Elan Whole House Audio system in my home. Each room/area has a volume control knob. It's white. Well, over the years several have broken, and now I am selling my house and I need to find more knobs to replace the broken, now missing ones. An Elan dealer called Elan for me and they do not have any. I've searched everywhere and cannot find anything.

The knobs are 1 3/16" in diameter, 5/8" deep, and the hole looks like it's 5/16". The hole is no completely round, but has a flat area. Imagine you are looking at a circle and around the 11 pm and 1 am spots (if it were a clock), instead of continuing around for the full circle, it is just flat straight across there. I hope this makes sense. I'd attach a photo but I'm not allowed yet.

So, does anyone have any idea where I can get some of these? And if I cannot match them exactly, I'll just buy a replacement for every one of them in the house if I can find a knob that has the right whole size and depth, and looks nice. It has to be white to match the plate.

Thanks so much. If I don't find them, I'd the buyer may force me to replace all the entire volume control units. That's a lot of money since I have about 15 of them.

Unfortunately white knobs are now out of fashion. They used to be common.

The shaft you describe is common for potentiometer shafts. This is what is on offer these days. I think Black and silver would look OK. Just change them all for something like this and be done with it. I don't think you will have any other option.

I have quite a few knobs in my parts bins, but I know I would not have thirteen all the same. I'm pretty sure all my white knobs are the old chicken head style knobs, which have not been around for a long time.

I would use those black and silver knobs, they will look fine against a white base plate. It will be a lot better than missing or damaged knobs.

 

[slobizman]

Ah, that's what there are called, potentiometer shafts. I have to use white, all my wall plates in the house are white and black just won't pass muster with the new buyer.

It's really frustrating because I fear I'll have to change out all of the entire control units in the wall with something else, just to get white. I don't know how much these things cost, but I think they are around $100 apiece or so. What would be a the least expensive opion for a very high end house?

Where would I get knobs made?

 

[TLS Guy]

Ah, that's what there are called, potentiometer shafts. I have to use white, all my wall plates in the house are white and black just won't pass muster with the new buyer.

It's really frustrating because I fear I'll have to change out all of the entire control units in the wall with something else, just to get white. I don't know how much these things cost, but I think they are around $100 apiece or so. What would be a the least expensive opion for a very high end house?

Where would I get knobs made?

I really doubt you will be able to get them made. I don't think any one would do a small run like that.

You could buy some knobs that fit, and spray paint them, or have an auto body shop do it.

The paint will ware off eventually, but you will be long out of it.

I would not replace the whole system. I would just tell the buyer this is something not solvable. Tell him you will buy black knobs, or he can put in what he wants.

 

[Rickster71]

Below is a link to a company that sells knobs and custom fabricates.


http://www.shokaifareast.com/Products/Pots/Rotary/knobs.htm
Just a thought: find a style that's in stock, and close to what you want, and paint it white.

Good Luck,
Rick
Edit:The matador and his quick typing skills, have beaten me again.

 

[phlakvest]

Look through some companies that sell electronics. Mouser.com, jameco.com

Also look for some companies that sell parts for DIY guitar effects. They usually have some strange and obscure knobs. You can find some white and cream colored knobs at those places.

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=764

http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=683

 

[slobizman]

Here's an idea. Most of my knobs are on an upper floor, with maybe four of them on a bottom level. I think I could get all of the upstairs covered with the knobs I have now, and then I could replace the entire assembly in the downstairs locations with something that looks similar--at least all the ones on the same floor would be similar.

I found a white one for $34. I am not allowed to post a link but if you Google search for "Future Smart AUD75VC 75 Watt Volume Control White" you can see it. I don't really understand all this stuff, but if someone can tell me if they think these will do what the Elan ones did, I'd be grateful. Mine have no IR, just a simple rotary switch.

 

[slobizman]

The shaft you describe is common for potentiometer shafts.

Are all potentiometer shafts exactly the same diameter and shape?

 

[Rickster71]

They are all not the same, though they are built on a standard.
What you describe is a common "D" shaft. Sizes range from 4mm, 6mm, and 1/4 inch

 

[Rickster71]

What you have is very common.
If the pot shaft measures a 1/4" across the flat portion, I'd try this knob.
http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/lutron-dimmer-replacement-knob-p-16022.html?ref=42

 

[slobizman]

I found this page on ELAN's site: elanhomesystems.com/productdetail.asp?id=13

It shows the rotary setup that I have.

 

[Adam]

I found this page on ELAN's site: elanhomesystems.com/productdetail.asp?id=13

It shows the rotary setup that I have.

Yeah, I saw that and was wondering if that's what you had. That's one reason that I recommended contacting Elan directly. If they still sell the panels, they almost surely can supply the knobs.

 

[slobizman]

My ELAN dealer has called them and they said they don't have any to sell. But I'm going to send my dealer this link.

Yeah, I saw that and was wondering if that's what you had. That's one reason that I recommended contacting Elan directly. If they still sell the panels, they almost surely can supply the knobs.

 

[TLS Guy]

I found this page on ELAN's site: elanhomesystems.com/productdetail.asp?id=13

It shows the rotary setup that I have.

That is not an audio knob per se. That is a style if knob that is prevalent on home controls, like thermostats for base board heat.

It seems that ELAN are still using them. So why won't they sell you knobs? It is likely because they are made in China, and come with the knob, and they only get one with each unit. Silly as it sounds, you might end up buying the whole units to get the knobs!

By the way I checked my parts bins this morning, and have only one white knob in the bunch and it is nothing like that.

 

[slobizman]

I just talked to a tech support guy at Home Controls company. He said to check if the unit is digital or antenuated (I think that was the word). If not digital, then I can replace it with any Decora style unit like this one.

 

[TLS Guy]

I just talked to a tech support guy at Home Controls company. He said to check if the unit is digital or antenuated (I think that was the word). If not digital, then I can replace it with any Decora style unit like this one.

You only need the knob. You don't have to replace and rewire anything. Find the cheapest units that have that style knob and take the knobs off and replace. I think you may find it on cheap light dimmers at Home Depot.

How many knobs a re broken? I know the problem with those knobs, they are large and the collars are not strong enough. The collars break. I had a bunch in our medical center, when I was building chairman. I replaced them with brushed aluminum knobs, and I think they looked better. I do have a matched set of three brushed aluminum knobs that would like fine and professional. If those knobs are in different areas, they don't have to all be the same. I would not throw a bunch of money at this problem. Those knobs are poor anyway, as you have found out.

 

[Rickster71]

I just talked to a tech support guy at Home Controls company. He said to check if the unit is digital or antenuated (I think that was the word). If not digital, then I can replace it with any Decora style unit like this one.

Why not replace all the knobs with this White
LUTRON DIMMER Replacement Knob for $3.50?
http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/lutron-dimmer-replacement-knob-p-16022.html?ref=42

 

[slobizman]

Why not replace all the knobs with this White
LUTRON DIMMER Replacement Knob for $3.50?
http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/lutron-dimmer-replacement-knob-p-16022.html?ref=42

We bought that knob at an Ace Hardware store this morning and it's a plain circle hole, not a "potentiometer" style.

 

[Rickster71]

We bought that knob at an Ace Hardware store this morning and it's a plain circle hole, not a "potentiometer" style.

I know different brand dimmers use the "D' style knob.
I'll look some up, and let you know.

Rick